[Updated 11:40am 5-22-2011]

2012 Atlantic Basin Tropical Cyclone Season
(officially begins June 1, 2012)

For this year, the following names will be assigned to Atlantic Basin storms in sequential order: Alberto, Beryl, Chris, Debby, Ernesto, Florence, Gordon, Helene, Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie, and William.

Tropical cyclones can form in various ocean basins around the world. Where they form depends mainly on seasonal issues. The Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) in Monterey, California has a website that tracks tropical cyclone activity worldwide. Here is a LINK to that website. The website is maintained by the NRL Marine Meteorology Division.

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TROPICAL HEADLINES

>>>Alberto downgraded to post-tropical cyclone; continues weakening; NHC has issued last advisory.

>>>Tropical Depression 2-E has has strengthened to tropical storm status and is named "Bud"; may become a hurricane by Wednesday night.

Atlantic Basin:

BULLETIN
POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE ALBERTO ADVISORY NUMBER  12
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       AL012012
1100 AM EDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...ALBERTO BECOMES A POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE...THIS IS THE LAST ADVISORY...


SUMMARY OF 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
-----------------------------------------------
LOCATION...33.1N 74.0W
ABOUT 170 MI...270 KM SSE OF CAPE HATTERAS NORTH CAROLINA
ABOUT 295 MI...470 KM SSE OF NORFOLK VIRGINIA
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...35 MPH...55 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...NE OR 50 DEGREES AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1008 MB...29.77 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
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THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
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AT 1100 AM EDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF POST-TROPICAL CYCLONE ALBERTO WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 33.1 NORTH...
LONGITUDE 74.0 WEST.  THE CYCLONE IS MOVING TOWARD THE NORTHEAST AT 17 MPH...28 KM/H...AND THIS GENERAL MOTION 
IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT DAY OR SO.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 35 MPH...55 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  THE CYCLONE IS FORECAST TO DISSIPATE WITHIN 
THE NEXT 36 HOURS.

THE ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1008 MB...29.77 INCHES.

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Eastern Pacific Basin

BULLETIN
TROPICAL STORM BUD ADVISORY NUMBER   7
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL       EP022012
800 AM PDT TUE MAY 22 2012

...BUD MAINTAINING 40-MPH WINDS...


SUMMARY OF 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...INFORMATION
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LOCATION...11.1N 104.0W
ABOUT 485 MI...780 KM SSW OF ZIHUATANEJO MEXICO
ABOUT 545 MI...880 KM S OF MANZANILLO MEXICO
MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...40 MPH...65 KM/H
PRESENT MOVEMENT...WNW OR 300 DEGREES AT 13 MPH...20 KM/H
MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...1004 MB...29.65 INCHES


WATCHES AND WARNINGS
--------------------
THERE ARE NO COASTAL WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT.


DISCUSSION AND 48-HOUR OUTLOOK
------------------------------
AT 800 AM PDT...1500 UTC...THE CENTER OF TROPICAL STORM BUD WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 11.1 NORTH...LONGITUDE 104.0 WEST. 
BUD IS MOVING TOWARD THE WEST-NORTHWEST NEAR 13 MPH...20 KM/H.  A TURN TOWARD THE NORTHWEST WITH A DECREASE IN 
FORWARD SPEED IS EXPECTED LATER TODAY...FOLLOWED BY A TURN TOWARD THE NORTH BY THURSDAY MORNING.

MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS REAMIN NEAR 40 MPH...65 KM/H...WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  SOME STRENGTHENING IS FORECAST DURING 
THE NEXT 48 HOURS...AND BUD COULD BECOME A HURRICANE BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 45 MILES...75 KM MAINLY TO THE WEST OF THE CENTER.

ESTIMATED MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE IS 1004 MB...29.65 INCHES.

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What source of energy drives tropical cyclones?

Latest Sea Surface Temperatures worldwide
[Source: Space Science and Engineering Center, UWisc-Madison]

The warmer waters produce increased conversion of sea water into water vapor (by way of evaporation into the atmosphere). The air near the ocean surface becomes very moist. Passing disturbances moving east to west (in the Northern Hemisphere) lift the lower atmospheric air (and the water vapor in it). As the air is lifted, it cools, and vast amounts of energy (heat) is released by condensation of the water vapor back into liquid water. If conditions in the middle and upper atmosphere are "right", a low pressure area will form at the surface and a tropical disturbance (precursor of the tropical cyclone) may form.

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Category One Hurricane:
    Winds 74-95 mph (64-82 kt or 119-153 km/hr). Storm surge generally 4-5 ft above normal. No real damage to building structures. Damage primarily to unanchored mobile homes, shrubbery, and trees. Some damage to poorly constructed signs.

Category Two Hurricane:
    Winds 96-110 mph (83-95 kt or 154-177 km/hr). Storm surge generally 6-8 feet above normal. Some roofing material, door, and window damage of buildings. Considerable damage to shrubbery and trees with some trees blown down. Considerable damage to mobile homes, poorly constructed signs, and piers.

Category Three Hurricane:
    Winds 111-130 mph (96-113 kt or 178-209 km/hr). Storm surge generally 9-12 ft above normal. Some structural damage to small residences and utility buildings with a minor amount of curtainwall failures. Damage to shrubbery and trees with foliage blown off trees and large trees blown down. Mobile homes and poorly constructed signs are destroyed.

Category Four Hurricane:
    Winds 131-155 mph (114-135 kt or 210-249 km/hr). Storm surge generally 13-18 ft above normal. More extensive curtainwall failures with some complete roof structure failures on small residences. Shrubs, trees, and all signs are blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Extensive damage to doors and windows.

Category Five Hurricane:
    Winds greater than 155 mph (135 kt or 249 km/hr). Storm surge generally greater than 18 ft above normal. Complete roof failure on many residences and industrial buildings. Some complete building failures with small utility buildings blown over or away. All shrubs, trees, and signs blown down. Complete destruction of mobile homes. Severe and extensive window and door damage.